Page 31 of Counter Attack

Grinning, he tipped his cup at her. “Let me be the first to congratulate you.”

“You may want to wait until all the i’s get dotted and the t’s crossed. Somebody might kick up that the sheriff is hiring his granddaughter as his chief deputy.”

“That’s one of the nice things about being sheriff, especially sheriff of a small county—he pretty well can hire anyone he wants to, and if he wants to hire you, there’s nothing anyone can do about it as long as you aren’t a felon.”

“You don’t think Harvey Morgan will be upset?”

“Knowing your grandfather, by the time he finishes talking to Harvey, he’ll think it was his idea to transfer to chief of staff. And I don’t think you’ll have any trouble about it with the other deputies—they all know Harvey was chief deputy because he’s been with the department the longest. Mark Lassiter is the only other deputy who might resent Carson hiring you, but both men like and respect your grandfather. I believe they’ll give you a chance.”

She stared at the floor. Now that she’d agreed to do what her grandfather asked, all kinds of questions bombarded her. What if some of the deputies resigned because Gramps hired her? It would stress her grandfather at a time he didn’t need stress.

“Look at me.”

She raised her gaze.

“Stop worrying. It’s not going to be that complicated.”

18

Twelve days later on a Monday morning at nine o’clock, her grandmother and Nathan looked on as Alex lifted her right hand and her grandfather swore her in as his chief deputy.

Her head swirled with how quickly everything moved once she said yes. Even resigning from the Chattanooga PD wasn’t as painful as Alex had expected. Her lieutenant had wished her well and indicated there would be a place for her if she ever wanted to return.

After her grandparents congratulated her, Kayla hugged her. Alex had been surprised to see her at the brief ceremony. Kayla had started working for Nathan a couple of days ago and had even found a place to live in Pearl Springs.

“Congratulations, if this is what you want,” Kayla said.

“Thanks. Stick around—I think my grandmother brought refreshments.”

“I gotta run or I’ll be late for work,” Kayla said as the Pearl Springs’s mayor stepped next to Alex and held out his hand.

“Thanks for coming,” she called to Kayla’s retreating form before she turned to the mayor and shook his hand as he congratulated her.

“I look forward to working with you.”

Alex was surprised that he showed up at the swearing in. “Gramps told me you have plans for the area. I’d like to hear about them sometime.” She glanced over his shoulder at Nathan. “Thank you for coming.”

“Sounds good. I believe you’re just what the county needs.”

When the mayor moved on to shake hands with her grandfather, Nathan stepped beside her.

“You look good in green.”

“Thanks.” The uniform, a dark green polo and khakis, had arrived Friday, just in time for her swearing in. She held out her hand.

He didn’t settle for a handshake, instead enveloped her in a hug. “I’m proud of you.”

Before she could respond, the photographer motioned her over to pose for photos with her grandfather, who refused to be photographed in the wheelchair he’d come in, then with Nathan, the mayor, and grandfather for the local newspaper. Last of all, Alex stood with the US flag and the Tennessee state flag as backdrops for her official chief deputy photo that would be placed where Harvey’s photo had been on the wall identifying the command staff. Harvey’s new photo would be on the other side of her grandfather’s.

When the photos were finished and practically everyone had left, she leaned over to her grandfather. “Want to show me around?”

“Good idea.”

Alex glanced at Nathan. “You want to tag along?”

He grinned. “If you don’t care—a tour might be as close as I’ll ever get to the office.”

Her grandfather’s head jerked up. “Nathan Landry! You know I didn’t offer you the job because you’re needed where you are.”

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